Viettel Cameroon to operate under Nexttel brand

Viettel Cameroon, which was announced as the winner of the country’s third mobile licence in December 2012, will operate under the brand name Nexttel when it launches commercial services next month, Journal du Cameroun reports. TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database notes that the new operator is a 70/30 joint venture between Vietnamese military-owned Viettel Group and Cameroon-based Bestinver Asset Management. It fought off rival bids from the likes of Maroc Telecom and Indian telecoms group Bharti Airtel for the licence, after pledging to invest nearly XAF200 billion (USD400 million) in the rollout of a mobile network that will cover 81% of Cameroon’s territory from launch. According to local press reports, the cellco is due to finally begin commercial activities on 18 September, joining established mobile operators South Africa’s MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun of France in the market.